Floor made from individual elements

ABSTRACT

The aim of the invention is an embodiment of a floor with high resistance, formed from individual elements which are light and easily transported and also easily removed and thus may be used in multiple applications. According to the invention, said aim is achieved whereby the flat elements are multi-layered plates, each with a thin pressure and wear resistant plate provided on the upper surface thereof and a light material layer, fixed by means of an adhesive layer arranged thereunder. The invention further relates to a floor made from individual flat elements.

[0001] The invention relates to a floor consisting of individual two-dimensional elements.

[0002] The invention is intended, in particular, for floors, which can be removed once again and therefore are usable repeatedly. For floors, which can be removed once again and used repeatedly and are required, for example, for exhibitions, it was previously not possible to configure level and high-grade floor surfaces with a high load-carrying capability, especially when thin and therefore light natural stone panels are used.

[0003] In the state of the art, floors for textile coverings, which can be removed once again, are known. In this connection, it shall be possible to remove the covering from the floor once again without leaving a residue and without damaging the floor covering.

[0004] According to DE 36 00 807 C2, a method is given for this purpose, for which a plastic layer is disposed on both sides of a backing material, at least one side of which being glueable, impermeable to the adhesive and resistant to water.

[0005] For use under high loads and for external use, it is known that stone, concrete or ceramic elements may be laid in mortar or on corner supports. According to DE 197 37 097 C2, a system is known, for which panels are used, which are laid individually next to one another or with the help or with the help of connecting plates and on which the floor covering is applied.

[0006] When used in the usual manner for achieving the strength required, natural stone panels are thick and heavy and therefore cumbersome to transport. For this reason, they are not suitable for repeated use. Because of the danger of breakage, thin natural stone panels, which are therefore easily transported, must be glued onto a level substrate or laid in a bed of mortar and are therefore also not suitable for repeated use.

[0007] It is an object of the invention, to indicate a floor configuration of high strength with individual elements, which are light and easily transported as well as easily removable once again and, accordingly, can be used repeatedly.

[0008] Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished with the distinguishing features given in claim 1

[0009] Advantageous developments are given in the dependent claims.

[0010] The invention has a series of advantages.

[0011] Due to the multilayer construction of the individual panels, with, in each case, a thin panel on the upper side and, below this, a pressure-resistant light material layer, which preferably consists of a foamed material, a light floor element with a high-grade surface and sufficient strength is realized.

[0012] Due the arrangement of the peripheral grooves at the edges of the layer of light material and of connecting strips in the grooves between adjacently placed multilayer panels, the securing of the floor elements against shifting in the joint direction as well as avoidance of offsets between adjacently laid multilayer panels is accomplished in an easy manner. Because thin, two-dimensional sheathing of high strength and high modulus of elasticity is glued between the upper panel and the light material layer, a very high strength of the floor elements is realized even when very thin panels and therefore very light floor elements are used. Such a high strength of the floor elements ensures a sufficient safety against fracture even in the case of localized stresses, which occur, for example, when shelves or cabinets, which are supported at points, are set up. Moreover, the floor elements do not need to be laid in a bed of mortar or glued to a substrate.

[0013] The invention is explained in greater detail in the following by means of an example. In the associated drawings,

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a section through an inventive, multilayer panel,

[0015]FIG. 2 shows an inventive connecting strip,

[0016]FIG. 3 shows a section of a total arrangement of a floor and

[0017]FIG. 4 shows a detail of the connecting site.

[0018] The section through an inventive, multilayer panel, illustrated in FIG. 1, shows a thin panel 1 of natural strength, to the underside of which a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic fabric of small thickness is glued two-dimensionally by means of an epoxide resin as a two dimensional sheathing 2. The thin panel 1 may consist of glass, wood, or metal. In comparison with the natural stone panel, the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic fabric has a high modulus of elasticity; the tensile strength and the compression strength of the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic fabric are clearly greater than the compression strength of the natural stone. Beneath the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic fabric, a pressure-resistant foam layer 4, which consists of an extruded and hydrophobized Styrofoam, is glued two-dimensionally. Due to the multilayer construction shown, a multilayer panel of low weight and high bending strength is achieved. In the case of an appropriate construction, the sheathing 2 is disposed within the layer 4 of light material. The sheathing elements advantageously can also be introduced owing to the fact that the slots for accommodating strip-shaped sheathing 2 are incorporated in the layer 4 of lightweight material. For example, the slots can be incorporated in pre-manufactured lightweight panels already before the latter are combined with the thin panel 1 and the strip-shaped sheathing 4 is glued into these slots subsequently.

[0019] Peripheral grooves 3, which accommodate the connecting strips 9, are disposed at all four edges of the layer 4 of light material of the square floor panel. The panels may have edge lengths of 200 to 2200 mm and preferably squares with a length of 300 to 500 mm and a thickness 10 to 20 mm are used.

[0020] Such a connecting strip 9 is shown in FIG. 2. The connecting strip 9 has at least two horizontal legs 9.1. The embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, is similar to a T-shaped profile and has two horizontal legs 9.1 and an additional vertical leg 9.2. The thickness of the horizontal legs 9.1 is slightly less than the width grooves 3; in the longitudinal direction of the profile, profilings, in which the horizontal legs 9.1 are clamped securely in the grooves 3 and which thus serve to connect adjacently disposed multilayer panels, are disposed at the horizontal legs 9.1. To facilitate the assembly, it is advisably to provide the ends of the horizontal legs 9.1 with a conically constructed chamfered edge. The vertical legs 9.2 maintain a defined vertical joint width between the multilayer panels.

[0021]FIG. 3 shows an asymmetrically represented section of an overall arrangement of a floor with several multilayer panels, which are connected in each case by connecting strips 9. The multilayer panels are laid on a level substrate; the substrate consists of a lower sheet 8, over which a rapidly setting jointless floor 7 is cast. An upper sheet 6 is disposed over the jointless floor 7. The floor is bounded at the sides by an L-shaped metal, angled profile 5, the horizontal leg of which is covered with the jointless floor 7. The angle profile 5 is fixed in the substrate by this covering. At the side facing the floor, the vertical leg of the angle profile 5 is provided with a compressible sealing tape, which prevents the mortar emerging from the frame. The mutual connection of the connecting strips 9, which are disposed in the two joint directions at the crossing points of joints between the multilayer panels, is not shown in the Figure.

[0022]FIG. 4 explains a detail of a connecting site, for which there are additional fastening rails 10, which have a groove engaged by the horizontal legs 9.1 of the connecting strips 9, in the side surfaces of the layer 4 of light material. Advantageously, the horizontal legs 9.1 are formed elastically by a slot and are provided at the end with thickenings, which engage corresponding undercuts at the inner surfaces of the fastening rails and thus make possible a positive, but detachable connection and, with that, a secure and gap-free arrangement of adjacent panels.

[0023] At the same time, it is also possible that the vertical legs 9.2 are provided at their upper side with colored edge strips 11 of an elastic plastic, which fulfill decorative tasks, as well as improve the sealing. Aside from a flat shape, shown in FIG. 4, the surface of the edge strip 11 can also have a raised shape, as shown in FIG. 4b, or be constructed as a fillet, as shown in FIG. 4c. Furthermore, it is possible to use the versions of the connecting strip 9 without a vertical leg 9.2. These embodiments, suitable especially for use for exterior patio panels, are shown in FIG. 4d. The connecting strip consists here only of the two horizontal legs 9.1, which are provided with openings. By these means, it becomes possible to discharge water from the surface of the panels, which drains through the gap between adjacent panels and can be discharged through the connecting strip 9.

List of Reference

[0024]1. Panel

[0025]2. Sheathing

[0026]3. Groove

[0027]4. Layer of light material

[0028]5. Angle profile

[0029]6. Upper sheet

[0030]7. Jointless floor

[0031]8. Lower sheet

[0032]9. Connecting strip

[0033]9.1 Horizontal leg

[0034]9.2 Vertical leg

[0035]10. Fastening rail

[0036]11. Edge strip 

1. A floor, consisting of individual, two-dimensional elements, characterized in that the two-dimensional elements are multilayer panels, a thin, pressure-resistant and wear-resistant panel (1) being disposed at the upper side of the multilayer panels and a pressure-resistant layer (4) of light material being fastened by gluing below the panel (1).
 2. The floor of claim 1, characterized in that the thin pressure-resistant and wear-resistant panel (1) consists of natural stone.
 3. The floor of claim 1, characterized in that the thin pressure-resistant and wear-resistant panel (1) consists of glass.
 4. The floor of claim 3, characterized in that the thin pressure-resistant and wear-resistant panel (1) consists of glass and that a graphic design, visible from above, is mounted at its underside.
 5. The floor of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that grooves (3) are disposed at the veridical edge surfaces of the layer (4) of light material and connecting strips (9) are disposed in these grooves (3) in each case between adjacently laid multilayer panels.
 6. The floor of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a two-dimensional sheathing (2) of high strength and, in comparison to panel (1), of high modulus of elasticity and slight thickness is glued between the panel (1) and the layer (4) of light material at least in partial regions.
 7. The floor of claim 6, characterized in that the two-dimensional sheathing (2) is disposed over the whole surface or in strip form and consists of the carbon fiber-reinforced plastic, carbon fiber-reinforced plastic fabric, fiberglass or metal.
 8. The floor of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the sheathing (2) is disposed within the layer (4) of light material.
 9. The floor of claim 8, characterized in that the slots for accommodating strip-shaped sheathing (2) are incorporated in the layer (4) of light material.
 10. The floor of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two-dimensional elements form squares with an edge length of 300 to 500 mm and a thickness of 10 to 20 mm.
 11. The floor of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the multilayer panels are disposed on a flat substrate, which comprises a lower sheet (8), on which a rapidly setting jointless floor (7) is cast.
 12. The floor of one of the claims 5 to 11, characterized in that the connecting strips (9) consist of two horizontal legs (9.1) and one upwardly directed leg (9.2), the thickness of the horizontal legs (9.1) being slightly less than the width of the grooves (3), the horizontal legs (9.1) engaging the grooves (3) and the upper edge of the vertical leg (9.2) terminating approximately at surface of the panel (1) of natural stone.
 13. The floor of claim 12, characterized in that an additional part of a different material, which has a groove engaged by the horizontal legs (9.1) of the connecting strip (9), engages the side surfaces of the layer (4) of light material.
 14. The floor of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the upper side of the vertical legs (9.2) is provided with a colored strip (11).
 15. The floor of one of the claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the horizontal legs (9.1) have thickenings for clamping the connecting strip (9) into the grooves (3).
 16. The floor of one of the claims 12 to 15, characterized in that the connecting strips (9) are disposed both joint directions of the overall arrangement of the multilayer panel and are connected with one another at the crossing points of joints.
 17. The floor of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the undersurface of the layer (4) of light material has grooves, which enable water to drain.
 18. The floor of one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the edges of the whole arrangement, which is formed by a plurality of multilayer panels, are bounded by an angle profile (5), the horizontal leg of which is fixed bellow the multilayer panels and the vertical leg of which is provided at its side, facing the floor, with a compressible sealing tape. 